84% of US coastal wetlands are sinking towards open water
A new nationwide study reveals the unsettling reality that most coastal wetlands in the contiguous United States are sinking towards open water due to rising sea levels. Researchers examined nearly 450 wetlands across the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts, tracking them for up to 20 years. While 89% of wetlands are gaining some elevation through sediment buildup, only 16% are doing so quickly enough to keep pace with sea-level rise.
The remaining 84% are slowly sinking, putting them on a trajectory to become open water if current trends continue.
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